[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-21462]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: August 31, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Project Nos. 2251-MI; 2579-IN]
Indiana Michigan Power Co.; Public Scoping Meetings
August 25, 1994.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has received
applications for new license (relicense) for the following two existing
hydropower projects operated by the Indiana Michigan Power Company on
the mainstem St. Joseph River: (1) the Buchanan Project (FERC No. 2551)
located in Berrien County, Michigan; and (2) the Twin Branch Project
(FERC No. 2579) located in St. Joseph County, Indiana.
Upon review of the applications, supplemental filings, and
intervenor submittals, the Commission staff has concluded that, given
the locations and existing status of the projects, staff will prepare
one Environmental Assessment (EA) that describes and evaluates the
probable impacts of the applicant's proposed and alternative operating
strategies, environmental enhancement measures, and improve public
recreational access and facilities for both projects.
One element of the EA process is scoping. Scoping activities are
initiated early to:
Identify reasonable alternative operational procedures and
environmental enhancement measures that should be evaluated in the EA;
Identify significant environmental and public recreational
access issues related to the operation of the projects;
Determine the depth of analysis for issues that will be
discussed in the EA; and
Identify resource issues that are of lessor importance
and, consequently, do not require detailed analysis in the EA.
Scoping Meetings
Staff will hold two meetings. An evening scoping meeting is
designed primarily for receiving public input, whereas an agency
meeting will focus on federal, state, and local government concerns. We
invite all interested agencies, tribes, organizations, and individuals
to attend either or both meetings and to assist staff in identifying
the scope of environmental issues that should be analyzed in the EA.
The evening meeting for the general public will be held from 6:30
p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 1994, at the Bittersweet
Branch of the Mishawaka--Penn Public Library, located at 602
Bittersweet Road in Mishawaka, Indiana.
The agency-oriented meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.
on Wednesday, September 21, 1994, in the Commission Chamber of Buchanan
City Hall, located at 302 N. Redbud Trail in Buchanan, Michigan.
Procedures
Both meetings, which will be recorded by a stenographer, will
become part of the formal record of the Commission's proceeding on the
Buchanan and Twin Branch Projects. Individuals presenting statements at
the meetings will be asked to sign in before the meetings start and
identify themselves for the record.
Concerned parties are encouraged to offer us verbal guidance during
the public meetings. Speaking time allowed for individuals at the
evening public meeting will be determined before that meeting, based on
the number of persons wishing to speak and the approximate amount of
time available for the session, but all speakers will be provided at
least five minutes to present their views.
Scoping Meeting Objectives
At the scoping meetings, the staff will:
Summarize the environmental issues tentatively identified
for analysis in the multiple-project EA;
Identify resource issues that are of lessor importance
and, therefore, do not require detailed analysis;
Solicit from the meeting participants all available
information, especially quantifiable data, concerning significant local
resources; and
Encourage statements from experts and the public on issues
that should be analyzed in the EA.
Information Requested
Federal and state resource agencies, local government officials,
interested groups, area residents, and concerned individuals are
requested to provide any information they believe will assist the
Commission staff to analyze the environmental impacts associated with
relicensing the Buchanan and Twin Branch Projects. The types of
information sought include the following:
Data, reports, and resource plans that characterize
existing (baseline) physical, biological, or social environments in the
vicinity of the projects;
Information and data that helps staff identify or evaluate
significant environmental and recreational issues; and
Information from any EA, environmental impact statement or
study (completed, in progress, or planned) relevant to the Buchanan and
Twin Branch relicensing.
Scoping information and associated comments should be submitted to
the Commission no later than September 30, 1994. Written comments
should be provided at the scoping meetings or mailed to the Commission
at the following address: Lois Cashell, Secretary, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 825 North Capitol St., NE., Washington, DC
20426.
All correspondence should clearly show the following caption on the
first page of each submittal:
Buchanan Project, FERC No. 2552
Twin Branch Project, FERC No. 2579
Intervenors are reminded of the Commission's Rule of Practice and
Procedure requiring them to serve a copy of all documents filed with
the Commission on each person whose name is listed on the service
listed for the Buchanan and Twin Branch Projects.
For further information, please contact Jim Haimes of the
Commission's Division of Project Review in Washington, DC at (202) 219-
2780.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-21462 Filed 8-30-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
